Israeli strike on Beirut targets senior Hezbollah commander, source says

An Israeli strike targeted a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut’s southern suburbs at dusk on Tuesday, a senior Lebanese security source said, adding that the commander’s fate remained unclear, Reuters reports.

A loud blast was heard and a plume of smoke could be seen rising above the southern suburbs – a stronghold of Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah – at around 7:40 p.m. (1640 GMT), a Reuters witness said.

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Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said an Israeli strike had targeted the area around Hezbollah’s Shura Council in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of the capital.

Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, tweeted: “The IDF conducted a precise and professional operation to eliminate Hezbollah’s most senior military commander. Fuad Shukr ‘Sayyid’ Muhsan has the blood of many Israelis on his hands. Tonight, we have shown that the blood of our people has a price, and that there is no place out of reach for our forces to this end.”

Beirut has been on edge for days ahead of an anticipated Israeli attack in retaliation for a strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed a dozen youngsters.

Israel and the United States have blamed Hezbollah for the attack. Hezbollah has denied responsibility.

READ: Hezbollah rejects calls to avoid answering anticipated Israeli attack

UPDATED at 04:40 GMT on 31July 2024 to include a comment from the Israeli defence minister.